'Just as GPs giving up smoking had a significant effect on smoking rates, NHS leadership on carbon reduction and climate resilience could be highly influential for the rest of society,' says the report.

'High-carbon lifestyles cause the “diseases of affluence” (including heart disease, cancer and depression), which have almost overwhelmed the health service.

'The NHS should take the lead in promoting low-carbon living as both healthier and happier,' it adds.

Neil McKay, the lead NHS Chief Executive for sustainable development said the NHS had a major challenge to get healthcare professionals to take onboard the report's recommendations.

'There are parts of the NHS that are taking carbon-reduction seriously but there are parts that are not. We'll be working hard to get these issues into the boards of every part of the organisation,' said Mckay.